Together with other World Communions, the World Methodist Council extends its condolencesto His Holiness Pope Francis and the entire Catholic Church on the death of Pope EmeritusBenedict XVI. Pope Benedict was a towering intellectual figure who published sixty-six books, threeencyclicals, and three apostolic exhortations. His support of informed theological dialoguebetween Churches, including the dialogue between the World Methodist Council and theRoman Catholic Church, was a hallmark of his pontificate. Pope Benedict’s